The Toronto Stock Exchange is just one of two national stock exchanges operating in Canada, the other being TSX Venture Exchange. Both of these companies are held by TMX Group, Inc., which is considered the cornerstone of the Canadian financial markets and the center of Canada's equity market.

History of the Toronto Stock Exchange

The Toronto Stock Exchange, or TSX, is thought to have grown from an association of brokers back in 1852. Unfortunately, there are no official records of this group's transactions. However, by 1861, twenty-four brokers came together at the Masonic Hall to create the Toronto Stock Exchange. In 1878, the exchange was formally incorporated by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

In 1934, the TSX merged with the Standard Stock and Mining Exchange, and the merged markets adopted the Toronto Stock Exchange name. In 1997, the TSX closed its trading floor, making it the largest stock exchange in North America to choose a floorless, electronic / virtual trading environment.

Facts and Figures

The Toronto Stock Exchange claims to be the third largest stock exchange in North America, behind the NASDAQ and NYSE Euronext, and the eighth largest exchange in the world. The performance of the market is usually measured in terms of the S&P / TSX Composite Index, which is composed of 197 companies. In February 2017, the S&P / TSX Composite closed at 15,922.370, which is currently the record high for the index (as of August 2017).

Some of the other key statistics of the Toronto Stock Exchange include:

Over 3,388 issuers are listed on the exchange, with a market capitalization of nearly $2.28 trillion USD (August 2017).

On December 19, 2008, a record 896 million shares exchanged hands on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

In May 2010, the exchange set an average daily volume record of 218,846 contracts.

On September 18, 2008, a record $19.3 billion in securities were traded.

Holiday Schedule and Hours of Operation

The Toronto Stock Exchange's hours of operation as well as their 2017 and 2018 holiday schedules are listed below. Trading in the U.S. dollar may also be suspended on those days when banking holidays are celebrated in the U.S.

Toronto Stock Exchange Holiday Schedule 2017

Holiday

Date

New Year’s Day

January 2, 2017

Family Day

February 20, 2017

Good Friday

April 14, 2017

Victoria Day

May 22, 2017

Canada Day

July 3, 2017

Civic Holiday

August 7, 2017

Labor Day

September 4, 2017

Thanksgiving Day

October 9, 2017

Christmas Day

December 25, 2017

Boxing Day

December 26, 2017

Toronto Stock Exchange Holiday Schedule 2018

Holiday

Date

New Year's Day

January 1, 2018

Family Day

February 19, 2018

Good Friday

March 30, 2018

Victoria/Patriots' Day

May 21, 2018

Canada Day

July 2, 2018

Civic Holiday

August 6, 2018

Labor Day

September 3, 2018

Thanksgiving

October 8, 2018

Christmas

December 25, 2018

Boxing Day

December 26, 2018

Toronto Stock Exchange Hours of Operation

Both the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange have trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. There is also an extended session for Participating Organizations and Member Firms that extend from 4:10 to 5:00 p.m. ET each trading day.